The Congress has made it clear it has not supported the call for 'Bharat Bandh' today. It will instead hold protests across the country against demonetisation

Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes were banned to cover up Centre’s failure to deliver on the prime minister’s electoral promise of bringing back black money, Jairam Ramesh said. (PTI)

The Congress has made it clear it has not supported the call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ today. It will instead hold protests across the country against demonetisation, which it said was a political move against the corruption.

Speaking to reporters, party leader Jairam Ramesh had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi only believes in “dhamaka” and the demonetisation decision was taken as he had seen “writing on the wall” in the Uttar Pradesh elections, which are due next year.

He also claimed that Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes were banned to cover up Centre’s failure to deliver on the prime minister’s electoral promise of bringing back black money in the country. Jairam Ramesh further said that that person who had amassed the huge amount of black money are not suffering, while innocent citizens have to stand in long queues in ATMs and banks, affecting their daily life.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the senior Congress leader had also said that the economic activity has already come to a standstill since November 9. When asked about the Opposition’s strategy in the Parliament, he said a debate will happen the only f the Prime Minister participates in it.

He also questioned NDA Government’s preparedness to bring in new notes and said that as per estimates it may take up to 250 days to print new currency notes and bring an economy back. While criticising the PM for his call for a “cashless” or “less cash” society, he added that in India, most people use cash for daily transactions and such things take time and cannot be forced by giving shocks.